Cuban defector signs contract with Sarasota Ballet

One of the seven dancers from the Cuban National Ballet who defected while on tour in Mexico last month is the newest member of the Sarasota Ballet.

Eduardo Gonzalez, 23, a soloist with the Cuban company for the past six years, signed a soloist contract Monday with the local company for the 2013-2014 season said Artistic Director Iain Webb. He will begin training and rehearsing here in August when the dancers return from their annual summer respite.

"Eduardo will fit in well," said Webb. "He will be a nice complement to the dancers we already have."

The connection was made through Javier Dubrocq, who teaches at the Sarasota Ballet School with his wife, Isabel, and who himself defected from Cuba at the age of 25. He brought Gonzalez to Webb's attention and the director, who was just in the process of finalizing dancer contracts for the coming season, agreed to take a look.

"It was perfect timing," said Webb. "If it had been a month or two later, I wouldn't have had the position or the money."

Through Dubrocq, Gonzalez, who speaks no English, said he had been planning to defect ever since learning several months ago that the Cuban National Ballet would tour Mexico. Though he had traveled extensively with the company before and considered defecting previously in Europe, Australia and Canada, the connections he had in Mexico made it easier to follow through. His entire family, which remains in Cuba, knew in advance of his decision.

Like many Cuban defectors before him -- including Octavio Martin, who danced for seven years with the Sarasota Ballet before leaving over a contract dispute at the end of the 2011-2012 season -- Gonzalez said he was seeking greater artistic freedom and better economic opportunities. The Cuban company's repertoire consists almost entirely of the oldest and most familiar classical story ballets.

"He felt he did not get the chances he should have in the company," Dubrocq explained. "There was so much politics."

Dancers from Cuba, most of whom defected to do so, now populate many of the top companies in America and England. A very few -- Jose Manuel Carreno, who spent most of his career with America Ballet Theatre, and Carlos Acosta, who still dances with the Royal Ballet in London -- were allowed to have careers outside the country without having to defect.

"People like Carlos left to do works like 'La Fille Mal Gardee," said Webb, a Royal Ballet alum, referring to the Frederick Ashton ballet his company will present next week at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall. "We're not the Royal, but we have those ballets, as well as some new, contemporary works. With all his facilities, Eduardo will do very well."

Asked which choreographer's work he would particularly like to dance now that he is in America, Gonzalez seemed stumped.

Gonzalez and Webb make it official in front of an American flag. / Photo courtesy Sarasota Ballet

"He actually doesn't know too many," said Dubrocq.

Gonzalez admitted he came to the U.S. with no plan for either finding a job or supporting himself. Having a signed contract after only two weeks in the country was beyond his wildest expectations.

"Increible," he muttered.

"He is still in shock," Dubrocq interpreted.

Asked why he would take a chance on a largely unknown and unproven talent, Webb said he has a great appreciation for dancers trained in the Cuban system, acknowledging their discipline and work ethic, as well as an "animal quality" many of the male dancers exhibit. He also noted he was also looking to hire a tall male dancer; Gonzalez is 6-foot-2.

"And then what for me is the icing on the cake is that I love taking talent and molding it," said Webb.

Gonzalez is returning to Miami this week, but expects to move to Sarasota soon.

Carrie Seidman

Dance/arts critic, Sarasota Herald Tribune

Last modified: April 8, 2013
All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be published without permissions. Links are encouraged.

Cuban defector signs contract with Sarasota Ballet

One of the seven dancers from the Cuban National Ballet who defected while on tour in Mexico last month is the newest member of the Sarasota Ballet.

Eduardo Gonzalez, 23, a soloist with the Cuban company for the past six years, signed a soloist contract Monday with the local company for the 2013-2014 season said Artistic Director Iain Webb. He will begin training and rehearsing here in August when the dancers return from their annual summer respite.

"Eduardo will fit in well," said Webb. "He will be a nice complement to the dancers we already have."

The connection was made through Javier Dubrocq, who teaches at the Sarasota Ballet School with his wife, Isabel, and who himself defected from Cuba at the age of 25. He brought Gonzalez to Webb's attention and the director, who was just in the process of finalizing dancer contracts for the coming season, agreed to take a look.

"It was perfect timing," said Webb. "If it had been a month or two later, I wouldn't have had the position or the money."

Through Dubrocq, Gonzalez, who speaks no English, said he had been planning to defect ever since learning several months ago that the Cuban National Ballet would tour Mexico. Though he had traveled extensively with the company before and considered defecting previously in Europe, Australia and Canada, the connections he had in Mexico made it easier to follow through. His entire family, which remains in Cuba, knew in advance of his decision.

Like many Cuban defectors before him -- including Octavio Martin, who danced for seven years with the Sarasota Ballet before leaving over a contract dispute at the end of the 2011-2012 season -- Gonzalez said he was seeking greater artistic freedom and better economic opportunities. The Cuban company's repertoire consists almost entirely of the oldest and most familiar classical story ballets.

"He felt he did not get the chances he should have in the company," Dubrocq explained. "There was so much politics."

Dancers from Cuba, most of whom defected to do so, now populate many of the top companies in America and England. A very few -- Jose Manuel Carreno, who spent most of his career with America Ballet Theatre, and Carlos Acosta, who still dances with the Royal Ballet in London -- were allowed to have careers outside the country without having to defect.

"People like Carlos left to do works like 'La Fille Mal Gardee," said Webb, a Royal Ballet alum, referring to the Frederick Ashton ballet his company will present next week at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall. "We're not the Royal, but we have those ballets, as well as some new, contemporary works. With all his facilities, Eduardo will do very well."

Asked which choreographer's work he would particularly like to dance now that he is in America, Gonzalez seemed stumped.

Gonzalez and Webb make it official in front of an American flag. / Photo courtesy Sarasota Ballet

"He actually doesn't know too many," said Dubrocq.

Gonzalez admitted he came to the U.S. with no plan for either finding a job or supporting himself. Having a signed contract after only two weeks in the country was beyond his wildest expectations.

"Increible," he muttered.

"He is still in shock," Dubrocq interpreted.

Asked why he would take a chance on a largely unknown and unproven talent, Webb said he has a great appreciation for dancers trained in the Cuban system, acknowledging their discipline and work ethic, as well as an "animal quality" many of the male dancers exhibit. He also noted he was also looking to hire a tall male dancer; Gonzalez is 6-foot-2.

"And then what for me is the icing on the cake is that I love taking talent and molding it," said Webb.

Gonzalez is returning to Miami this week, but expects to move to Sarasota soon.

Carrie Seidman

Dance/arts critic, Sarasota Herald Tribune

Last modified: April 8, 2013
All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be published without permissions. Links are encouraged.